Combination has edge

A spirited Marshalstown/Davidstown outfit sealed their passage through to the next round with a one-point victory over a battling Shamrocks outfit in this Enniscorthy District Under-21 hurling Roinn 1 championship game at Farmleigh on Monday of last week.

Na Fianna 2-13 Shamrocks 1-15

It was a glorious evening for hurling on a splendid sod, and both teams responded with passages of excellent play.

As the game developed it turned into a real dogfight with the sides continuing to exchange scores, but in the end the combined forces of Marshalstown-Castledockrell and Davidstown-Courtnacuddy held the Shamrocks surge for the narrowest of victories.

By the tenth minute Shamrocks led by 1-2 to 0-3, the goal coming after just two minutes when full-forward Robbie Cleary powered home a low shot from 14 metres, giving 'keeper Darragh Kehoe little chance.

But with Colm Quigley striking over some neat points for the home side, they were back level (1-3 to 0-6) after 17 minutes. Both sides could take lots of positives from their play, with a Mark Brennan goal two minutes before the break helping the eventual winners into a 1-8 to 1-7 interval lead.

Within one minute of the re-start Brian Ormonde increased his side's lead with a goal from close range, having reacted quickest to a breaking ball.

Still four points separated the sides at the end of the third quarter (2-11 to 1-10) but two quick-fire Podge Doyle pointed frees reduced the deficit to two with ten minutes remaining.

Two Colm Quigley pointed frees restored his side's four-point cushion with five minutes remaining, but once Podge Doyle responded with three pointed frees, the minimum separated the sides with one minute remaining.